Rotary drier for clothes and the like



1,528,186 A. w. FARRELL ROTARY DRIER FOR CLOTHES AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 1922 2 Shuts-Sheet" l Patented Mar. 3, 1925.

lJNlTEl) I tszaise inTENT orr cE.

ARCHIE W. FARRELL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIG NOR TO FAR-HELL PRODUCTS COMPANY, OF DOWAGIAO, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

ROTARY DRIER FO'It CLOTHES Application filed November 20, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARCHIE-WV. FARRELL, a citizen of the Unitec States, residing at Chicago, in. the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in a Rotary Drier for Clothes and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for drying or extracting water and moisture from fabrics, such as wearing apparel, towels, sheets, bed-spreads, and the like, and it consists in certain peculiarities of the construction, novel arrangement and combination of the various parts thereof as will be hereinafter more fully set forth and specifically claimed.

Among the objects of the invention, is the provision of an electrically operated rotary drier for fabrics and the like, by means of which the articles to be dried will be sub jected to centrifugal force or power of a degree sufficient to quickly extract water or moisture therefrom, to such an extent if desired, that they will not requirewringing before being ironed.

Another object is to furnish a drier of such construction, arrangement and opera-- tion of its parts that wet articles being'dried thereby will notbe damaged or creased in the drying operation, as is the case when they are passed'between the rollers of the commonly used clothes wringers- I I p A: further object is to so construct the apparatus that the parts thereof may be readily assembled in theirv operative positions, or-detached andarranged for com pactness in shipping or storage.

Stillfurther and important objects are, to provide means to counteract or overcome, to a great extent, if not to eliminate, the torque of the motor of the device, and to centralize the position of the load-carrying shaft driven by the motor with respect to the normal axial line of said shaft.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be disclosed in the following de scription and explanation, i

In the' accompanying drawings, which serve to illustrate an embodiment of the invention r Figure 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in vertical section of the drier with the parts thereof in position ready for operation.

AND THE LIKE.

Serial No. 602,288.

Fig. 2 is a plan view.

I Fig. 3 is an enlarged view partly-in elevation and partly in section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, and

Fig. 41- is a similar view taken on line a e: of Fig. 3 as indicated by the arrows.

Like numerals of reference refer to cor responding parts throughout the different views of the drawings.

The reference numeral 10 designates the legs of the supporting frame of the apparatus, which frame is preferably tripodal in form as shown, and may be made of any suitable material and desired size. As shown, the legs 10 are inclined inwardly from their lower ends and are connected together at their upper ends by means of a spider or frame 11 usually triangular in shape. lower endsv the legs 10 have detacliably secured thereto in a horizontal position, a spider or frame 12 for supporting a tub or receptacle 13 employed as a container for the operation. of the rotary cage or perforated container for the articles to be dried.

and for catching the water extracted or re- At a suitable distance above their end of the tub 13- and to lie wholly within said tub without contacting therewith. As shown, the clothes receptacle 16 has its walls perforated, and may be made of reticulated I or perforated material. The upper end of the receptacle 16 is preferably provided with. an inwardly extended flange 1.8 to prevent the clothes within said receptacle being forced out of the upper end thereof by the centrifugal .force imparted to said receptacle, as will be presently explained. The floor or bottom of the receptacle 16 is provided with an upwardly extended tubular portion 19 which projects upwardly through the openings of the flanges 15 and 1.8 of the receptacles 18 andf16' respectively, as is clearly shown in Fig; 1 ofthe drawings. The lower portion of this tubularpart 19 is annularly enlarged as at 20 to receive a vertically orificed weighted hub 21 extended upwardly from the center of a spider or frame 22 which supports the receptacle 16 horizontally within the tub.

Extended through the opening in the hub 21 and secured thereto against independent rotation by means of a transversely disposer pin 23 or otherwise, is the lower portion of a rotary shaft 24 which, for the purpose of reducing the weight thereof, is preferably tubular in form. The lower end of this shaft extends to near the bottom of the tub or vessel 13 and is surrounded by a safety or guide ring 25 secured to the upper surface of the bottom of the tub centrally thereof. The upper end of the shaft 24 is secured in a vertically disposed opening in the hub 26 of a wheel 27 so as to rotate therewith by means of a set screw 28 extended through a suitable opening in said hub and engaging the shaft 24 with its inner end.

As is clearly shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings, the spider or frame 11 to which the upper ends of the supporting legs 10 are secured for slight pivotal move ment, is provided with a cross-bar 29, which has in its upper edge at about its middle, a recess 30 to receive a hook 31 on the upper end of the depending hanger 32 which has pivotally secured to its lower end a vertically disposed frame 33 which is by preference made of T-iron, that is, its sides and upper horizontal portion are formed of such material. The lower ends of the side members of the frame 33 are connected together by a transversely and horizontally disposed bar or member 34 which is provided at its middle with a hub 35 through the opening of which the rotary shaft 24 is extended, as is clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawings, in which views it will be observed that the hub 26 of the bowl-shaped wheel 27 is located directly above the hub 35 and rests at its lower end on the uppermost one of a pair of bearing washers 36 and 37 which are interposed between said hubs and surround the rotary shaft.

Fitted at its upper end in the hub 35 of the cross-bar 34 and held in spaced relation by means of suitable bushing 38 with respect to the rotary shaft 24 is a tube 39 which surrounds said shaft and extends into the upper end of the tubular part 19, of the clothes container. The bushing 38 may be of any suitable material, and as shown is interposed between the rotary shaft 24 and the tube 39 at their upper portions. A bearing bushing 40 is interposed between the lower end of the tube 39 and the rotary shaft 24 at the upper end of the tubular part 19 of the clothes container, as is clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

Transversely and horizontally mounted on the horizontal portion of the frame 33 about midway between the side members of said frame, is a hanger 41 which has depending ends 42 between and on which ends is pivotally mounted a supporting platform 43 for the electric motor 44 which drives the rotary shaft 24 and through it the clothes receptacle 16 or cage. The platform 43 has extended from one of its ends along one side of the frame 33 a horizontally disposed arm 45, to the outer end of which is swiveled the upper end of a rod 46 which extends at its lower portion in screw engagement therewith through a screw-threaded opening in a bracket 47 extended laterally from the lower portion of one of the sides of the frame 33. On the lower end of the rod 46 is mounted to turn there with a hand wheel 48 and just above the bracket 47, the rod 46 has mounted there on a lock nut 49 employed to restrict the vertical movement of said rod.

Mounted on the shaft of the motor 44 to turn with said shaft, is a friction wheel, 50 which co-operates with a pheripheral flange 51 on the wheel 27' for imparting rotary motion to the shaft 24 and the clothes container which said shaft carries. This friction wheel 50 can be thrown into and out of contact with the flange 51 of the wheel 27 by turning the hand wheel 48 on the rod 46 in the proper direction, which operation will cause the supporting platform 43 for the motor to be tilted, as is apparent. The platform 43 has transversely journaled thereon near its end adjacent the friction wheel 50, a screw-threaded shaft 52 which carries at one of its ends a hand wheel 53 for turning the same. The shaft 52 has mounted thereon in screw engagement therewith a depending hanger 54 on the lower portion of which is journaled a friction wheel 55 located in the same plane with the wheel 50 and adapted toimpinge with its periphery against the periphery of the wheel 50 for the purpose of trans.- mitting power from the motor through a flexible shaft 56 which the wheel carries, to any suitable element to be driven.

Attached to each of the legs 10 of the supporting frame at suitable distances above the receptacle 13, is a coil spring 57, each of which is looped around the tube 39 in loose engagement therewith. These springs are employed to neutralize or lessen the tendency of said tube and the rotary shaft 24, as well as the clothes receptacle 16 to swing or gyrate too far out of the-normal axial line of said shaft, due to the uneven or unequal distribution of the load in the clothes receptacle and of the centrifugal force when the said shaft and receptacle are rotated at a very high degree of speed.

As a further means to prevent the above named excessive action of the rotary shaft and clothes receptacle, the guide or safety ring 25 on the bottom of the receptacle 13 is employed, for it is manifest that the ring 25 which surrounds the lower end of said shaft, will restrict its movement in any direction from the normal axial line-of the shaft, yet will permit of considerable gyration thereof.

From the foregoing and by reference to the drawings it will be readily understood and clearly seen that by placing a quantity of wet clothes or other wet articles to be dried within the clothes receptacle 16, and by turning the hand wheel 18 and rod 46 in the proper direction to cause the friction wheel 50 to contact with the horizontally disposed peripheral flange 51 on the wheel 27, the shaft 2 1 will be driven through the power of the motor thus transmitted, at a high rate of speed to the end that water and moisture will be forced from the articles to be dried, into the tub or receptacle 13, from whichthe water can be discharged through the outlet 14:.

In the above mentioned operation, the flange 18 of the clothes receptacle 16 will prevent the articles being thrown or forced out of said receptacle, no matter how great the centrifugal force may be. It is also apparent that the flange 15 on the tub 13 will prevent splashing of water from said tub. It is further manifest that by supporting the motor audits co-operating parts on the bar 29 of the horizontal frame 11, at the top K of the supporting frame by means of the hook 31 of the hanger 32 and'the frame 33 which is pivotally connected to said hanger, a connection substantially of the universal joint type, will be provided, thereby neutralizing the torque of the motor. By detachably connecting the supporting frame 12 for the receptacle 13 to the supporting legs, it is apparent that this frame can be removed after the tub and motor have been removed from the supporting frame when the legs 10 can be moved towards each other at their lower ends, thus placing the parts of the supporting frame in a more compact position or form for shipping or storage- By the use of the weighted hub 21 on the center of the spider 22 and on the lower end of the shaft 24:, it is manifest that if the load within the container 16 shall be unevenly distributed, the weight of said hub will serve to centralize the line of rotation of said shaft and to keep it near its normal axial line.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a rotary drier, the combination with an upright supporting frame, of an electric motor mounted on the upper portion of said frame for slight substantially universal movement, a rotatable shaft journaled at its upper end near the motor with its lower end free and adapted to have a cage mount ed on its lower portion to rotate therewith, and adjustable means co-operating with said motor and said shaft for transmitting power from the former to the latter.

2. In a rotary drier, the combination with an upright supporting frame, of an electric motor mounted'on the upper portion of said frame for slight substantially universal movement, a vertical rotatable shaft journaled at its upper end near the motor and adapted to have a cage mounted on its lower end to rotate therewith, adjustable means adapted for transmitting power from the motor to said shaft, and means including tension springs on the supporting frame co-acting with the said shaft to restrict its movements out of its normal axial line and also including a suitably supported ring surrounding the lower end of said shaft but spaced therefrom.

3. In a rotary drier, the combination with an upright supporting frame, of a horizontally disposed bar at its upper end, said bar having a recess in its upper edge, a hanger having a hook located in said recess and engaging said bar, a depending frame pivotally mounted on said hanger, an electric motor located in said frame and tiltably supported thereon, a rotatable shaft journaled at its upper end in the lower portion of said frame, and means adapted for transmitting power from the motor to said shaft.

4. In a rotary, drier, the combination with an upright supporting frame, of a horizontally disposed bar at its upper end, the said bar having a recess in its upper edge, a hanger having a hook located in said recess and engaging said bar, a depending frame pivotally mounted. on said hanger, an elec tric motor located in said frame and tiltably supported thereon, a rotatable shaft j ournaled at its upper end in the lower portion of said frame and adapted to have a cage mounted on its lower end to rotate therewith, a horizontally disposed wheel on the upper end of. said shaft, a peripheral flange on said wheel, a friction wheel on the motor shaft, means carried by said depending frame and cooperating with the motor to tilt the latter for the purpose of causing said frictionwheel. to impinge against the flange of said wheel on the rotary shaft.

5. In a rotary drier, the combination with an upright supporting frame, of a horizontally disposed bar at its upper end, a hanger having a hook supported on said bar, a depending frame pivotally mounted on said hanger, an electric motor located in said frame and tiltably supported thereon, a rotatable shaft journaled at its upper end in the lower portion of said frame, and adapted to have a cage mounted on its lower end to rotate therewith, a horizontally dislit).

posed wheel on the upper end of said shaft provided with a horizontally disposed flange, a friction wheel on the motor shaft, means carried by said depending frame and co-operating with the motor to tilt the lat ter for the purpose of causing said friction wheel to impinge against the flange of said wheel on the rotary shaft.

6. In a rotary drier, the combination with an upright supporting frame, of a support for a hanger at its upper end, a hanger loosely engaging at its upper end the support therefor, a depending frame pivotally mounted on said hanger, an electric motor located in said frame and tiltably supported thereon, a rotatable shaft journaled at its upper end in the lower portion of the depending frame, and adapted to'have a cage mounted on its lower end to rotate therewith, a horizontally disposed wheel on the upper end of said shaft provided with a horizontally disposed flange, a friction wheel on the motor shaft, means carried by said depending frame and co-operating with the motor to tilt the latter for causing its friction wheel to impinge against the flange of said wheel on the rotary shaft, and means co-operating with said vertical shaft to retard its movements out of its normal axial line.

7. In a rotary drier, the combination with an upright supporting frame, of a support for a hanger at its upper end, a hanger loosely engaging at its upper end the support therefor, a depending frame pivotally mounted on said hanger, an electric motor located in said frame and tiltably supported thereon, a rotatable shaft journaled at its upper end in the lower portion of the depending frame, and adapted to have a cage mounted on its lower end to rotate therewith, a horizontally disposed wheel on the upper end of said shaft provided with a horizontally disposed flange, a friction wheel on the motor shaft, means carried by said depending frame and cooperating with the motor to tilt the latter for causing its friction wheel to impinge against the flange of said wheel on the rotary shaft, and means co-operating with said shaft to retard its movements out of its normal axial line, said means including tension springs on the supporting frame.

8. In a rotary drier, the combination with an upright supporting frame, of a support for a hanger at its upper end. a hanger loosely engaging at its upper end the support therefor, a depending frame pivotally mounted on said hanger, an eleetric motor located in said frame and tiltably supported thereon, a rotatable shaft journaled at its upper end in the lower portion of the depending frame, and adapted to have a cage mounted on its lower end to rotate therewith, a horizontally disposed wheel on the upper end of said shaft provided with a horizontally disposed flange, a friction wheel on the motor shaft, means carried by said depending frame and co-operating with the motor to tilt the latter for causing its friction wheel to impinge against the flange of said wheel on the rotary shaft, and means co-operating with said shaft to retard its movements out of its normal axial line, said means including a suitably sup ported ring surrounding the lower end of said shaft but spaced therefrom.

9. In a rotary drier, the combination with an upright supporting frame, of an electric motor mounted onfthe upper portion of said frame, a vertical rotatable shaftjournaled at its upper end near the motor, and adapted to have a cage mounted on its lower end to rotate therewith, the lower end of said shaft being free, adjustrble means adapted for transmitting power from the motor to said shaft, a perforated receptacle mounted on and around said shaft to rotate therewith, and a weight on said shaft near its lower end to centralize the line of rotation of said shaft when the load within the cage is unevenly distributed.

10. Ina rotary drier, the combination wit-h an upright supporting frame, of an electric motor mounted on the upper portion of said frame for slight substantially universal movement, a vertical rotatable shaft journaled at its upper end near the motor, and adapted to have a cage mounted on its lower end to rotate therewith, the lower end of said shaft being free, adjustable means adapted for transmitting power from the motor to said shaft, a weight on said shaft near its lower end, and tension springs on the supporting frame co-acting with the said shaft to restrict its movements out of its normal axial line.

ARCHIE IV. FARRELL, 

